Display device and backlight apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

A backlight apparatus includes a circuit board, a control board, and a connection cable connecting the above components. A first light source driver and a second light source driver are disposed on the circuit board and are electrically connected to a plurality of first light sources and a plurality of second light sources respectively. A connector is disposed on the circuit board. The first and second light source drivers are individually electrically coupled in series to the connector. The control board outputs electrical power, a first data stream, and a second data stream. The first light source driver controls the first light sources to light individually according to the first data stream. The second light source driver controls the second light sources to light individually according to the second data stream. Thereby, the circuit board can control the operation of the light sources individually.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.16/908,735, filed on Jun. 23, 2020, which is a continuation applicationof U.S. application Ser. No. 16/240,805, filed on Jan. 7, 2019. Thecontents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device and a backlightapparatus thereof, and more particularly to a direct-type backlightapparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional direct-type backlight apparatuses use a plurality of lightsources (e.g. Light Emitting Diode, LED) disposed uniformly on multiplecarrier boards to provide back light, e.g. for a display deviceconfigured with a liquid crystal panel and multi-layered optical sheets.These light sources are usually controlled to emit light under the sameoperation condition, e.g. driven by the same current. When the luminousefficiency of some light sources decays, the uniformity of the backlight will be insufficient. It is possible to replace the LEDs withdecayed luminous efficiency directly for overcoming this problem.However, it is quite inconvenient. For this issue, there are somesolutions by which the light sources can be controlled to emit lightindividually. They usually use a plurality of light source drivers. Eachlight source driver can control several light sources to operate.Thereby, the uniformity of the back light can be adjusted by controllingeach light source through the corresponding light source driver.However, if the light source drivers and the light sources are disposedon different carrier boards, they need to be connected by a cable inprinciple. The quantity of the conductors of the cable will beproportional to the quantity of the light sources, which increases theassembly difficulty. For a reduction in the quantity of the conductors,it is practicable to dispose the light source drivers and the lightsources on the same carrier board and use another control board totransmit control data to the light source driver. In general, the lightsource drivers on the same carrier board use the same signal loop onwhich the light source drivers are electrically connected in series, sothat the control flexibility on the operation of the light sourcesreduces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides an optimized cable-board architecturefor a display and a backlight apparatus, of which light source driversand light sources are disposed on the same circuit board. The lightsource drivers are connected in series by several signal loops. Thereby,the design of the display and backlight apparatus can reduce thequantity of conductors of a connection cable used in the backlightapparatus and display, which is not only flexible to the regionalcontrol of the light sources for light-emitting uniformity, but alsoflexible for the scalability and replaceability for the display andbacklight apparatus.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a backlight apparatusincludes a first light-emitting board and a second light-emitting board,each including a plurality of emission regions; a plurality of lightemitting diodes (“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and connectedto a common voltage source; at least one driver driving the LEDs in oneemission region by electrically coupling said LEDs separately, and eachdriver in each emission region being electrically connected in series; afirst cable and a second cable connecting to the first light-emittingboard and the second light-emitting board separately; a side boardincluding a first port and a second port to provide a data stream andthe voltage source to said first light-emitting board and secondlight-emitting board through said first cable and second cable andreceiving the data stream from said first light-emitting board throughsaid first cable; at least one control unit receiving the data streamand outputting a LED control signal based on the data stream, andwherein the data stream is transmitted in the first light-emitting boardand the second light-emitting board and each LED control signal is thengenerated consequentially in a package including said driver and saidcontrol unit. In an embodiment, said side board further including anelectrical pathway transmitting the data stream between the first portand the second port. In an embodiment, said light-emitting board furtherincluding an electrical intermediate component with a data decodingfunction.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a display devicecomprising: a liquid crystal display panel; a plurality of layers ofoptical sheets; a backlight unit to supply light to the display panelthrough said optical layers, wherein the backlight unit comprising: afirst light-emitting board and a second light-emitting board including aplurality of emission regions; a plurality of light emitting diodes(“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and are connected to a commonvoltage source; at least one driver driving the LEDs in one emissionregion by electrically coupling said LEDs separately and each driver ineach emission region is electrically connected in series; a first cableand a second cable connecting to the first light-emitting board and thesecond light-emitting board separately; a side board including a firstport and a second port to provide a data stream and the voltage sourceto said first light-emitting board and second light-emitting boardthrough said first cable and second cable and receiving the data streamfrom said first light-emitting board through said first cable; at leastone control unit receiving the data stream and outputting a LED controlsignal based on the data stream, and wherein the data stream istransmitted in the first light-emitting board and the secondlight-emitting board and each LED control signal is then generatedconsequentially in a package including said driver and said controlunit. In an embodiment, said display device further includes said liquidcrystal display panel substantially covers said emission regions in thelight-emitting boards. In an embodiment, said first light-emitting boardand second light-emitting board are adjacent to the long side of theside board. In an embodiment, said LED control signal controls luminousbrightness by electrical current.

In a varies embodiment, a display device comprising: a firstlight-emitting board and a second light-emitting board including aplurality of emission regions; a plurality of light emitting diodes(“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and are connected to a commonvoltage source; at least one driver driving the LEDs in one emissionregion by electrically coupling said LEDs separately and each driver ineach emission region is electrically connected in series; a first cableand a second cable connecting to the first light-emitting board and thesecond light-emitting board separately; a sideboard including a firstport and a second port to provide a data stream and the voltage sourceto said first light-emitting board and second light-emitting boardthrough said first cable and second cable and receiving the data streamfrom said first light-emitting board through said first cable; at leastone control unit receiving the data stream and outputting a LED controlsignal based on the data stream to control luminous brightness byelectrical current, and wherein the data stream is transmitted in thefirst light-emitting board and the second light-emitting board and eachLED control signal is then generated consequentially in a packageincluding said driver and said control unit.

In another varies embodiment, a backlight apparatus comprising: a firstboard, comprising a plurality of first illuminants and a plurality offirst drivers, the first drivers electrically coupling to the firstilluminants correspondingly, the first drivers being electricallycoupled in series, and at least one of the first drivers being disposedwithin a projection of a disposition area defined by a portion of thefirst illuminants disposed on the first board; a second board,comprising a plurality of second illuminants and a plurality of seconddrivers disposed on the second board, the second drivers electricallycoupling to the second illuminants correspondingly, the second driversbeing electrically coupled in series; a first cable and a second cable;and a control board, comprising a first mating port and a second matingport, the control board connecting to the first board through the firstmating port and the first cable, and connecting to the second boardthrough the second mating port and the second cable, the control boardoutputting power and a data stream through the first cable to the firstboard and through the second cable to the second board respectively;wherein the first drivers receive the data stream from the first cableand the second drivers receive the data stream from the second cable andwherein each of the first drivers and the second drivers decodes thedata stream to control the first illuminants and the second illuminantsto emit light accordingly. In an embodiment, an emitting region isdefined on the first surface with one of the first drivers and a portionof the first illuminants configured therewithin. In an embodiment, thedata stream in the first board is transmitted to the second boardthrough the first cable. In an embodiment, the control board iselongated with a long side and a short side, and the first board andsecond board are aligned along the long side of the control board. In anembodiment, the second board and the first board are arranged side byside.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a backlight apparatus according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the backlight apparatus in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.1 .

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a first light source driver ofthe backlight apparatus in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.1 applied in an application.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a backlight apparatus accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.6 applied in an application.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.6 applied in another application.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.6 applied in another application.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the backlight apparatus in FIG.6 applied in another application.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of a backlight apparatus accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a backlight apparatus accordingto another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 . A backlight apparatus 1 according toan embodiment includes a first circuit board 10, a plurality of firstlight sources 12 (of which the disposition area DA is indicated by adashed rectangle in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ), a plurality of second lightsources 14 (of which the disposition area DA is indicated by a dashedrectangle in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ), a first light source driver 16, asecond light source driver 18, a first connector 20, a first connectioncable 22, and a control board 24. The first light sources 12, the secondlight sources 14, the first light source driver 16, the second lightsource driver 18, and the first connector 20 are disposed on the firstcircuit board 10. The control board 24 provides required electricalpower and control signals for operation through the first connectioncable 22. In practice, for an example of a liquid crystal display withthe backlight apparatus 1, the backlight apparatus 1 can further includeother optical components (e.g. diffusing sheets, prism sheets, and soon) disposed above the first light sources 12 and the second lightsources 14. For another example, the backlight apparatus 1 can beapplied in other display devices that need backlight.

In the embodiment, the first circuit board 10 has a first front surface102, a first rear surface 104, a plurality of first vias 106, aplurality of second vias 108, a plurality of first driving signal paths110, and a plurality of second driving signal paths 112. The firstdriving signal paths 110 pass through the first vias 106 correspondinglyto extend on the first front surface 102. The second driving signalpaths 112 pass through the second vias 108 correspondingly to extend onthe first front surface 102. The first light sources 12 are on the firstfront surface 102. Each first light source 12 corresponds to one of thefirst driving signal paths 110. The first light source driver 16 isdisposed on the first rear surface 104 and electrically coupled to thefirst light sources 12 through the corresponding first driving signalpaths 110. The second light source 14 is disposed on the first frontsurface 102. Each second light source 14 corresponds to one of thesecond driving signal paths 112. The second light source driver 18 isdisposed on the first rear surface 104 and electrically coupled to thesecond light sources 14 through the corresponding second driving signalpaths 112.

In practice, the first driving signal paths 110 and the second drivingsignal paths 112 will be more complicated as the first light sources 12and the second light sources 14 increase in quantity. It is practicableto use a multi-layer board as the first circuit board 10 for meetinglayout requirement therefor. Therein, the first driving signal paths 110extend from the first rear surface 104 to the first front surface 102.In practice, the first driving signal paths 110 may be distributed on aplurality of conductive layers and pass through a plurality of vias (mayincluding through holes, blind holes, and buried holes), which can berealized by techniques of printed circuit boards and will not bedescribed in addition. In principle, each via corresponds to only oneconductive line, so the above first via 106 can refer to one of at leastone via through which the corresponding first driving signal path 110passes. Furthermore, if the layout complexity of the first drivingsignal path 110 and the second driving signal path 112 is not sodifficult that the first circuit board 10 can be provided by adouble-sided board, the first driving signal path 110 can pass throughonly one via in principle. The via is regarded as the correspondingfirst via 106 and extends to (or connects) the first front surface 102and the first rear surface 104, that is, passing through the firstcircuit board 10. The location of the first via 106 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2is just for reference. In addition, the above description of the firstvias 106 and the first driving signal paths 110 is also applicable tothe second vias 108 and the second driving signal paths 112 and will notbe repeatedly described.

Furthermore, the first connector 20 is disposed on the first rearsurface 104 and electrically coupled to the first light source driver 16and the second light source driver 18. The control board 24 is disposedadjacent to the first circuit board 10 and includes a carrier board 242,a first mating connector 244 and other electronic components (e.g.microprocessor, AC-to-DC converter, DC-to-DC converter) which aredisposed on the carrier board. The first mating connector 244 and thefirst connector 20 matches with each other and are connected through thefirst connection cable 22. For example, the first connection cable 22can be realized by but not limited to a flexible flat cable (FPC);correspondingly, the first mating connector 244 and the first connector20 are realized by an FPC board connector respectively. Thereby, thecontrol board 24 outputs electrical power, a first data stream DS1, anda second data stream DS2 to the first connector 20 through the firstconnection cable 22. Then, the first light sources 12, the second lightsources 14, the first light source driver 16, and the second lightsource driver 18 can receive required electrical power through the firstconnector 20 and also can receive the first data stream DS1 and thesecond data stream DS2 through the first connector 20. Therein, thefirst light source driver 16 decodes the first data stream DS1 to obtaina relevant first control signal for controlling the operation of thefirst light sources 12 individually. The second light source driver 18decodes the second data stream DS2 to obtain a relevant second controlsignal for controlling the operation of the second light sources 14individually. For more details, in practice, the first connector 20 hasa first connection port 202, a second connection port 204, a thirdconnection port 206, and a fourth connection port 208. The first lightsource driver 16 has a first input port 162 and a first output port 164.The first connection port 202, the first input port 162, the firstoutput port 164, and the second connection port 204 are electricallycoupled in series. In the embodiment, there are several light sourcedrivers connected in series between the first light source driver 16 andthe second connection port 204. These light source drivers (includingthe first light source driver 16) are coupled in series, e.g. by acommon serial-peripheral interface daisy chain configuration. Therein,the control board 24 is regarded as the host of the serial-peripheralinterface daisy chain configuration in logic. The first connector 20 hasother connection ports (now labelled in the figures) for providing clocksignal, chip selection signal, and so on. In the embodiment, there arefour light source drivers (including the first light source driver 16)electrically coupled in series between the first connection port 202 andthe second connection port 204. An exemplary disposition area DA of thelight sources electrically coupled to the first light source driver 16is indicated by a dashed rectangle in FIG. 1 . The other exemplarydisposition areas DA of the light sources electrically coupled to thelight source drivers (except for the first light source driver 16) areindicated by rectangles in chain lines in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 . Inpractice, if the series connection includes only the first light sourcedriver 16, in principle, the first input port 162 is directly connectedto the first connection port 202, and the first output port 164 isdirectly connected to the second connection port 204. Similarly, thesecond light source driver 18 has a second input port 182 and a secondoutput port 184. The third connection port 206, the second input port182, the second output port 184, and the fourth connection port 208 areelectrically coupled in series. The electrical connection of the secondlight source driver 18 with the first connector 20 is equal to theelectrical connection of the first light source driver 16 with the firstconnector 20. Therefore, for other descriptions about the second lightsource driver 18, please refer to the foregoing, which will not bedescribed in addition. Furthermore, in practice, the first light sourcedriver 16 can be realized by the function block diagram shown by FIG. 4and electrically couples with the sixteen first driving signal paths 110to control the sixteen first light sources 12 to emit light indifferentluminous brightness, which also can be applied to the second lightsource driver 18 and will not be repeatedly described. Therein, in FIG.4 , the first light source 12 includes a light emitting diode. Inpractice, the first light source 12 can include several light emittingdiodes disposed closely, of which the luminous brightness issubstantially the same.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the first mating connector 244 has afirst mating connection port 2442, a second mating connection port 2444,a third mating connection port 2446, and a fourth mating connection port2448 which are connected to the first connection port 202, the secondconnection port 204, the third connection port 206, and the fourthconnection port 208 through the first connection cable 22 respectively.The first data stream DS1 is transmitted to the first connection port202 through the first mating connection port 2442 and the firstconnection cable 22. The first input port 162 receives the first datastream DS1 through the first connection port 202. The first output port164 transmits the first data stream DS1 to the second connection port204. According to the first data stream DS1, the first light sourcedriver 16 controls the first light sources 12 through the correspondingfirst driving signal paths 110 to emit light. The first data stream DS1is then transmitted to the second mating connection port 2444 throughthe second connection port 204 and the first connection cable 22.Similarly, the second data stream DS2 is transmitted to the thirdconnection port 206 through the third mating connection port 2446 andthe first connection cable 22. The second input port 182 receives thesecond data stream DS2 through the third connection port 206. The secondoutput port 184 transmits the second data stream DS2 to the fourthconnection port 208. According to the second data stream DS2, the secondlight source driver 18 controls the second light sources 14 through thecorresponding second driving signal paths 112 to emit light. The seconddata stream DS2 is then transmitted to the fourth mating connection port2448 through the fourth connection port 208 and the first connectioncable 22.

In the configuration of the backlight apparatus 1, the first lightsources 12, the second light sources 14, the first light sources driver16, and the second light source driver 18 are disposed on the firstcircuit board 10, so the required conductors of the first connectioncable 22 is obviously less than the connection lines of the first lightsource driver 16 and the second light source driver 18 with the firstlight sources 12 and the second light sources 14 respectively inquantity. It is conducive to avoidance of or reduction on the difficultyof assembly and is also conducive to reduction on the manufacture cost.Furthermore, although the first light sources 12 and the second lightsources 14 are disposed on the first circuit board 10, the first lightsources 12 and the second light sources 14 still can be controlledindividually to emit light according to the first data stream DS1 andthe second data stream DS2 respectively.

In practice, if (a) the first control signal for controlling thelighting of the first light source 12 and (b) the second control signalfor controlling the lighting of the second light source 14 are requiredto be contained in the same data stream, the control board 24 can makethe first data stream DS1 and the second data stream DS2 be the same byconducting nodes of the circuit on the control board 24. As shown byFIG. 5 , in the backlight apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the secondmating connection port 2444 and third mating connection port 2446 can beconnected (e.g. by a jumper), so that after transmitted from the secondconnection port 204 to the second mating connection port 2444, the firstdata stream DS1 is transmitted to the third connection port 206 throughthe third mating connection port 2446 (i.e. after transmitted from thefirst circuit board 10 to the control board 24, the first data streamDS1 is transmitted from the control board 24 to the first circuit board10 as the second data stream DS2) for the second light source driver 18to decode to obtain the second control signal for controlling the secondlight sources 14 to emit light according thereto. In this case, thefirst light source driver 16 and the second light source driver 18 areelectrically coupled in series. Thereby, the backlight apparatus 1 ofthe embodiment has the flexibility of circuit design to be able tocontrol the operation of all light sources (including the first lightsources 12 and the second light sources 14) by use of single one datastream (DS1) or several data steams (DS1+DS2), even without changing thecircuitry and the disposition of the components on the first circuitboard 10.

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which illustrates a backlight apparatus 3 ofanother embodiment. The backlight apparatus 3 is structurally equal toan expansion of the backlight apparatus 1. For simplification ofdescription, the backlight apparatus 3 uses the reference numbers of thebacklight apparatus 1 in principle. For other descriptions about thebacklight apparatus 3, please refer to the relevant descriptions of thecomponents of the backlight apparatus 1 in the same name, which will notbe repeatedly described. Compared with the backlight apparatus 1, thebacklight apparatus 3 further includes a second circuit board 30, aplurality of third light sources 32, a plurality of fourth light sources34, a third light source driver 36, a fourth light source driver 38, asecond connector 40, and a second connection cable 42. The control board44 of the backlight apparatus 3 further includes a second matingconnector 444 disposed on the carrier board 442 thereof and matching thesecond connector 40. The second circuit board 30 has a second frontsurface, a second rear surface, a plurality of third vias, a pluralityof fourth vias, a plurality of third driving signal paths 302, and aplurality of fourth driving signal paths 304. The third driving signalpaths 302 pass through the third vias correspondingly to extend on thesecond front surface. The third light sources 32 are disposed on thesecond front surface and correspond to the third driving signal paths302 respectively. The third light source driver 36 is disposed on thesecond rear surface and electrically coupled to the third light sources32 through the corresponding third driving signal paths 302. The fourthdriving signal path 304 pass through the fourth vias correspondingly toexpand on the second front surface. The fourth light sources 34 aredisposed on the second front surface and correspond to the fourthdriving signal paths 304 respectively. The fourth light source driver 38is disposed on the second rear surface and electrically coupled to thefourth light sources 34 through the corresponding fourth driving signalpaths 304. The second connector 40 is disposed on the second rearsurface and has a fifth connection port 402, a sixth connection port404, a seventh connection port 406, and an eighth connection port 408.The third light source driver 36 has a third input port 362 and a thirdoutput port 364. The fifth connection port 402, the third input port362, the third output port 364, and the sixth connection port 404 areelectrically coupled in series. The fourth light source driver 38 has afourth input port 382 and a fourth output port 384. The seventhconnection port 406, the fourth input port 382, the fourth output port384, and the eighth connection port 408 are electrically coupled inseries. In the embodiment, the second circuit board 30 is structurallyequal to the first circuit board 10 in principle. The connectionrelationship of the second circuit board 30 with other componentsthereon is similar to that of the first circuit board 10 with othercomponents thereon. Therefore, for other descriptions about the secondcircuit board 30 and the other components thereon (including theconnection relationship thereof), please refer to the relevantdescriptions of the first circuit board 10 and the other componentsthereon (including the connection relationship thereof) and the relevantfigures.

Furthermore, the second connection cable 42 connects the secondconnector 40 and the second mating connector 444. The second matingconnector 444 has a fifth mating connection port 4442, a sixth matingconnection port 4444, a seventh mating connection port 4446, and aneighth mating connection port 4448, which correspond to the fifthconnection port 402, the sixth connection port 404, the seventhconnection port 406, and the eighth connection port 408 respectively andare connected to thereto through the second connection cable 42. Thecontrol board 44 outputs electrical power, a third data stream DS3, anda fourth data stream DS4 to the second connector 40 through the secondconnection cable 444. The third input port 362 receives the third datastream DS3 through the fifth connection port 402. The third output port364 transmits the third data stream DS3 to the sixth connection port404. The third light source driver 36 decodes the third data stream DS3to obtain a relevant third control signal for controlling the thirdlight sources 32 to emit light through the corresponding third drivingsignal paths 302 according to the third control signal. The fourth inputport 382 receives the fourth data stream DS4 through the seventhconnection port 406. The fourth output port 384 transmits the fourthdata stream DS4 to the eighth connection port 408. The fourth lightsource driver 38 decodes the fourth data stream DS4 to obtain a relevantfourth control signal for controlling the fourth light sources 34 toemit light through the corresponding fourth driving signal paths 304according to the fourth control signal.

Furthermore, in the backlight apparatus 3, the first circuit board 10and the second circuit board 30 are arranged side by side. The firstcircuit board 10 has a first edge 114. The second circuit board 30 has asecond edge 306. The first edge 114 is aligned with the second edge 306.In other words, the first circuit board 10 and the second circuit board30 are spliced in logic to form a circuit board with larger area.Furthermore, the first connector 20 is disposed adjacent to the firstedge 114. The second connector 40 is disposed adjacent to the secondedge 306. The control board 44 is disposed adjacent to the first edge114 and the second edge 306. Thereby, the first connection cable 22 andthe second connection cable 42 are not required to be long in length,which is conducive to cost reduction and the disposition of thecomponents. Furthermore, on the whole, the backlight apparatus 3 usesthe control board 44 to control two circuit board modules (i.e. thefirst circuit board 10 with the components thereon and the secondcircuit board 30 with the components thereon). The backlight apparatus 1uses the control board 24 to control one circuit board module (i.e. thefirst circuit board 10 with the components thereon). Therefore, thebacklight apparatus 3 is an expansion of the backlight apparatus 1 instructure, e.g. applicable for liquid crystal displays of larger size.Therefore, the backlight apparatuses according to the invention have amodularization property, which is conducive to the production design andis also conducive to reduction on the manufacture cost.

Furthermore, in the backlight apparatus 3 shown by FIG. 6 , connectingmating connection ports on the control board 44 can achieve electricalseries connection of the light source drivers in practice. For example,in FIG. 6 , if the second mating connection port 2444 and the thirdmating connection port 2446 are connected and the first control signaland the second control signal are coded into the first data stream DS1,the first light source driver 16 and the second light source driver 18are electrically coupled in series accordingly and the first lightsources 12 and the second light sources 14 are controlled to emit lightaccording to the first data stream DS1.

For another example, as shown by FIG. 7 , if the fourth matingconnection port 2448 and the fifth mating connection port 4442 areconnected and the second control signal and the third control signal arecoded into the second data stream DS2, the second light source driver 18and the third light source driver 36 are electrically coupled in seriesaccordingly and the second light sources 14 and the third light sources32 are controlled to emit light according to the second data stream DS2;in other words, the second data stream DS2 is also taken as the thirddata stream DS3.

For another example, as shown by FIG. 8 , the fourth mating connectionport 2448 and the fifth mating connection port 4442 are connected. Thesixth mating connection port 4444 and the seventh mating connection port4446 are connected. The second to fourth control signals are coded intothe second data stream DS2. Thereby, the second light source driver 18,the third light source driver 36, and the fourth light source driver 38are electrically coupled in series. The second light sources 14, thethird light sources 32, and the fourth light sources 34 are controlledto emit light according to the second data stream DS2. In other words,the second data stream DS2 is also taken as the third data stream DS3and the fourth data stream DS4.

For another example, as shown by FIG. 9 , the second mating connectionport 2444 and the third mating connection port 2446 are connected. Thefourth mating connection port 2448 and the fifth mating connection port4442 are connected. The first to third control signals are coded intothe first data stream DS1. Thereby, the first light source driver 16,the second light source driver 18, and the third light source driver 36are electrically coupled in series. The first light sources 12, thesecond light sources 14, and the third light sources 32 are controlledto emit light according to the first data stream DS1. In other words,the first data stream DS1 is also taken as the second data stream DS2and the third data stream DS3.

For another example, as shown by FIG. 10 , the second mating connectionport 2444 and the third mating connection port 2446 are connected. Thefourth mating connection port 2448 and the fifth mating connection port4442 are connected. The sixth mating connection port 4444 and theseventh mating connection port 4446 are connected. The first to fourthcontrol signals are coded into the first data stream DS1. Thereby, thefirst light source driver 16, the second light source driver 18, thethird light source driver 36, and the fourth light source driver 38 areelectrically coupled in series. The first light source 12, the secondlight source 14, the third light source 32, and the fourth light source34 are controlled to emit light according to the first data stream DS1.In other words, the first data stream DS1 contains the second to fourthcontrol signals originally contained in the second data stream DS2, thethird data stream DS3, and the fourth data stream DS4 respectively.

Please refer to FIG. 11 , which illustrates a backlight apparatus 5 ofanother embodiment. The backlight apparatus 3 is structurally equal toan expansion of the backlight apparatus 3. For simplification ofdescription, the backlight apparatus 5 uses the reference numbers of thebacklight apparatuses 1 and 3 in principle. For other descriptions aboutthe backlight apparatus 5, please refer to the relevant descriptions ofthe components of the backlight apparatuses 1 and 3 in the same name,which will not be repeatedly described. Compared with the backlightapparatus 3, the backlight apparatus 5 further includes a third circuitboard 50, a plurality of fifth light sources 52, a plurality of sixthlight sources 54, a fifth light source driver 56, a sixth light sourcedriver 58, a third connector 60, and a third connection cable 62. Thecontrol board 64 of the backlight apparatus 5 further includes a thirdmating connector 644 disposed on the carrier board 642 thereof andmatching the second connector 60. The fifth light sources 52, the sixthlight sources 54, the fifth light source driver 56, the sixth lightsource driver 58, and the third connector 60 are disposed on the thirdcircuit board 50. The third connection cable 62 connects the thirdconnector 60 and the third mating connector 644. In the embodiment, thethird circuit board 50 is structurally equal to the first circuit board10 in principle. The connection relationship of the second circuit board50 with other components thereon is similar to that of the first circuitboard 10 with other components thereon. Therefore, for otherdescriptions about the second circuit board 50 and the other componentsthereon (including the connection relationship thereof), please refer tothe relevant descriptions of the first circuit board 10 and the othercomponents thereon (including the connection relationship thereof) andthe relevant figures. Furthermore, the third connector 60 has a ninthconnection port 602, a tenth connection port 604, an eleventh connectionport 606, and a twelfth connection port 608. The third mating connector644 has a ninth mating connection port 6442, a tenth mating connectionport 6444, an eleventh mating connection port 6446, and a twelfth matingconnection port 6448, which correspond to the ninth connection port 602,the tenth connection port 604, the eleventh connection port 606, and thetwelfth connection port 608 respectively and are connected theretothrough the third connection cable 62. The ninth connection port 602,the fifth light source driver 56, and the tenth connection port 604 areelectrically coupled in series. The eleventh connection port 606, thesixth light source driver 58, and the twelfth connection port 608 areelectrically coupled in series.

Similarly, in the backlight apparatus 5 shown by FIG. 11 , connectingmating connection ports on the control board 64 can achieve electricalseries connection of the light source drivers in practice. For otherexamples therefor, please refer to the relevant descriptions in theforegoing. In the embodiment, the second mating connection port 2444 andthe third mating connection port 2446 are connected. The fourth matingconnection port 2448 and the fifth mating connection port 4442 areconnected. The first to third control signals are coded into the firstdata stream DS1. Thereby, the first light source driver 16, the secondlight source driver 18, and the third light source driver 36 areelectrically coupled in series. The first light source 12, the secondlight sources 14, and the third light sources 32 are controlled to emitlight according to the first data stream DS1. Furthermore, the eighthmating connection port 4448 and the ninth mating connection port 6442are connected. The tenth mating connection port 6444 and the eleventhmating connection port 6446 are connected. The fourth to sixth controlsignal are coded into the fourth data stream DS4. Thereby, the fourthlight source driver 38, the fifth light source driver 56, and the sixthlight source driver 58 are electrically coupled in series. The fourthlight source 34, the fifth light source 52, and the sixth light source54 are controlled to emit light according to the fourth data stream DS4.

From another aspect, although the first, second and third circuit boards10, 30 and 50 are spliced to form a circuit board with larger area,connecting mating connection ports on the control board 64 can formacontrol area in logic. As shown by FIG. 11 , the backlight area providedby the backlight apparatus 5 is divided into two control areas. Thefirst light source 12, the second light source 14, and the third lightsource 32 belong to one of the control areas and are controlled throughthe first data stream DS1. The fourth light source 34, the fifth lightsource 52, and the sixth light source 54 belong to the other controlarea and are controlled through the fourth data stream DS4. In practice,this configuration is equivalent to a case that the back light providedby the backlight apparatus 5 is divided into an upper control area and alower control area. This feature is conducive to planning the datastreams and also can enhance the flexibility in controlling the lightsources.

In addition, in the embodiment, the first, second and third circuitboards 10, 30 and 50 of the backlight apparatus 5 are spliced in asingle direction. In practice, it is practicable to splice more circuitboards in two directions to form a circuit board with larger area inlogic, or to arrange two sets of the configuration in FIG. 11 oppositely(i.e. left and right symmetrical). As shown by FIG. 12 , theconfiguration shows a backlight apparatus 6 which is equivalent to acombination of two backlight apparatuses 5 (e.g. the configuration shownin FIG. 11 ) arranged oppositely, which illustrates a 3×2 circuit boardarray accordingly that provides back light in four areas. Forsimplification of description and drawing, the backlight apparatus 6uses the reference numbers of the backlight apparatus 5 and also skipssome reference numbers. For other descriptions about the backlightapparatus 6, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the componentsof the backlight apparatus 5 in the same name, which will not berepeatedly described. For example, the backlight apparatus 6 is appliedto an LCD television of large size with direct-type back light. Thebacklight is provided by splicing six circuit boards of relatively smallarea (i.e. the circuit boards 10, 30 and 50). Two control boards 64 aredisposed at the left and right sides of the 3×2 circuit board array. Ifrequired, the two control boards 64 can be moved to the back side of thesix circuit boards by bending the connection cables. Thereby, (a) in themechanism design, the LCD television can be designed to be with left andright narrow borders. For this case, the thickness of the LCD televisionis about the sum of the thickness of the circuit board 10 and thethickness of control board 64, which is conducive to the design of thinthickness of the LCD television. (b) In the circuit design, the lengthof the longest one of the signal paths from the control board 64 to theLED light sources can be reduced effectively, which can avoid a casethat relevant signals sent by the control board 64 disposed at the leftside of the 3×2 circuit board array need to be transmitted across thewhole width of the circuit board array to drive the LED light sources atthe right side of the 3×2 circuit board array.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A backlight apparatus comprising: a firstlight-emitting board and a second light-emitting board, each including aplurality of emission regions; a plurality of light emitting diodes(“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and connected to a commonvoltage source; at least one driver driving the LEDs in one emissionregion by electrically coupling said LEDs separately, and each driver ineach emission region being electrically connected in series; a firstcable and a second cable connecting to the first light-emitting boardand the second light-emitting board separately; a side board including afirst port and a second port to provide a data stream and the voltagesource to said first light-emitting board and second light-emittingboard through said first cable and second cable and receiving the datastream from said first light-emitting board through said first cable;and at least one control unit receiving the data stream and outputting aLED control signal based on the data stream; wherein the data stream istransmitted in the first light-emitting board and the secondlight-emitting board and each LED control signal is then generatedconsequentially in a package including said driver and said controlunit.
 2. The backlight apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sideboardfurther including an electrical pathway transmitting the data streambetween the first port and the second port.
 3. The backlight apparatusof claim 2, wherein said light-emitting board further including anelectrical intermediate component with a data decoding function.
 4. Adisplay device comprising: a liquid crystal display panel; a pluralityof layers of optical sheets; a backlight unit to supply light to thedisplay panel through said optical layers, wherein the backlight unitcomprising: a first light-emitting board and a second light-emittingboard including a plurality of emission regions; a plurality of lightemitting diodes (“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and areconnected to a common voltage source; at least one driver driving theLEDs in one emission region by electrically coupling said LEDsseparately and each driver in each emission region is electricallyconnected in series; a first cable and a second cable connecting to thefirst light-emitting board and the second light-emitting boardseparately; a side board including a first port and a second port toprovide a data stream and the voltage source to said firstlight-emitting board and second light-emitting board through said firstcable and second cable and receiving the data stream from said firstlight-emitting board through said first cable; and at least one controlunit receiving the data stream and outputting a LED control signal basedon the data stream; wherein the data stream is transmitted in the firstlight-emitting board and the second light-emitting board and each LEDcontrol signal is then generated consequentially in a package includingsaid driver and said control unit.
 5. The display device of claim 4,further including said liquid crystal display panel substantially coverssaid emission regions in the light-emitting boards.
 6. The displaydevice of claim 4, wherein said first light-emitting board and secondlight-emitting board are adjacent to the long side of the side board. 7.The display device of claim 4, wherein said LED control signal controlsluminous brightness by electrical current.
 8. A display devicecomprising: a first light-emitting board and a second light-emittingboard including a plurality of emission regions; a plurality of lightemitting diodes (“LEDs”) provided in each emission region and areconnected to a common voltage source; at least one driver driving theLEDs in one emission region by electrically coupling said LEDsseparately and each driver in each emission region is electricallyconnected in series; a first cable and a second cable connecting to thefirst light-emitting board and the second light-emitting boardseparately; a side board including a first port and a second port toprovide a data stream and the voltage source to said firstlight-emitting board and second light-emitting board through said firstcable and second cable and receiving the data stream from said firstlight-emitting board through said first cable; and at least one controlunit receiving the data stream and outputting a LED control signal basedon the data stream to control luminous brightness by electrical current;wherein the data stream is transmitted in the first light-emitting boardand the second light-emitting board and each LED control signal is thengenerated consequentially in a package including said driver and saidcontrol unit.
 9. A backlight apparatus, comprising: a first board,comprising a plurality of first illuminants and a plurality of firstdrivers, the first drivers electrically coupling to the firstilluminants correspondingly, the first drivers being electricallycoupled in series, and at least one of the first drivers being disposedwithin a projection of a disposition area defined by a portion of thefirst illuminants disposed on the first board; a second board,comprising a plurality of second illuminants and a plurality of seconddrivers disposed on the second board, the second drivers electricallycoupling to the second illuminants correspondingly, the second driversbeing electrically coupled in series; a first cable and a second cable;and a control board, comprising a first mating port and a second matingport, the control board connecting to the first board through the firstmating port and the first cable, and connecting to the second boardthrough the second mating port and the second cable, the control boardoutputting power and a data stream through the first cable to the firstboard and through the second cable to the second board respectively;wherein the first drivers receive the data stream from the first cableand the second drivers receive the data stream from the second cable andwherein each of the first drivers and the second drivers decodes thedata stream to respectively control the first illuminants and the secondilluminants to emit light accordingly.
 10. The backlight apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein an emitting region is defined on the first surface withone of the first drivers and a portion of the first illuminantsconfigured therewithin.
 11. The backlight apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe data stream in the first board is transmitted to the second boardthrough the first cable.
 12. The backlight apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe control board is elongated with a long side and a short side, andthe first board and second board are aligned along the long side of thecontrol board.
 13. The backlight apparatus of claim 9, wherein thesecond board and the first board are arranged side by side.